The document outlines the definition, objectives, and characteristics of scientific research, emphasizing the systematic and empirical nature of conducting research. It describes the importance of creativity, curiosity, and a structured approach in research methodology. Additionally, it presents criteria for good research, including systematic, logical, empirical, and replicable elements.

1. Advanced Research Methodology
By
Gebre Miruts (Ph.D.)

2. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

3.  At the end of this unit, you will be able to:
Explain the meaning and objectives of research
Discuss characteristics of scientific research
Describe the criteria of Good Research
Distinguish between inductive and deductive research
types
Unit Objectives

4.  In this Unit we will deal with the following contents:
Meaning and objectives of Scientific Research
Characteristics of Scientific Research
Criteria of Good Research
Types of research and research Approaches/designs
Basic contents

5. How Can You Define Research and Scientific Research?
Why Do We Need To Conduct Scientific Research?

6. 1. Research Is
Again Find, examine,
Test, probe etc
 Therefore, the word research describes a careful,
systematic, patient study and investigation in some field
of knowledge, undertaken to establish facts or principles.
Re Search

7. Con’t…
 Research can be also defined as an original investigation
undertaken in order to gain knowledge and
understanding. It is diligent and systematic inquiry or
investigation into a subject in order to discover facts or
principles.
 The UK Market Research Society also defines research
as the application of scientific research methods to obtain
objective information on people’s attitude and behavior
based usually on representative sample of the relevant
populations.

8. Research is About Answering the 5Wh Questions

10. Definition of Scientific
Research
 Scientific Research is a serious inquiry or examination; an
investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and
interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in
the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or
revised theories or laws.
 Scientific Research focusing on solving problems and
pursues a step by step logical, organized and rigorous method
to identify the problems, gather data, analyze them and draw
valid conclusions there from.

11.  Advanced Research Methodology is therefore, a
systematic way of solving the research problem
through a designed conceptual structure within
which research is conducted. The design is a blue
print and an outline of what the researcher will do
from writing the hypothesis/questions to its
operational implication and the final analysis of
data.

12. A Successful Scientific Research
Requires:
Creativity
Open mind
Curiosity
Patience
Persistence
Positive Attitude
Discipline and focus
 Scientific research therefore relies on application of:
Scientific method
Harnessing of curiosity
Providing scientific information and theories
Making practical applications possible

13. 2. Objectives of Research
The objectives of research work are to:
gain familiarity with a phenomenon or achieve new
insights into it
describe the characteristics of a particular individual, situation
or group
determine the frequency with which something occurs or with
which it is associated with something else
test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables
predict the future effects of a phenomenon or action

14. 3. Characteristics of Scientific Research
 Generally scientific research has the following characteristics:
It is Empirical
It Relies Upon Data
It is Intellectual and Visionary
It Uses Experiments to Test Predictions
It is systematic and methodical

15. 4. Criteria of Good Research
Good research is:
Systematic:
♣ Structured, follows specified steps; based on well defined set of rules.
Creative but no guessing and intuition in arriving at conclusions.
Logical:
♣ Is guided by the rules of logical reasoning - induction and deduction.
Empirical:
♣ Related basically to one or more aspects of a real situation and deals
with concrete data to ensure external validity of research results.
Replicable:
♣ Can be verified by replicating the study